Revenge & A Stream of Broken Hearts

Choices

I stand on my tip toes and peck his soft lips with a kiss. Before I can get back on my feet, the headlights of a car blind us.

Once my eyes adjust to the brightness, the driver comes into focus.

Percy.

---

Percy unlatches the car door and walks with his fists tightened. I walk up to him and push his chest to get him to stop moving. He keeps walking though, straight for Cole.

"No, Percy I can explain!" I scream.

His face is still angry. He stretches his arm backward and strikes a punch at Cole's face. I cover my mouth. Cole might have muscles, but Percy is definitely stronger than him. Cole falls to the ground. His mouth full of blood. Percy walks back to his truck and drives away in the night sky.

I shuffle over to Cole with my braced arm, and casted leg. I can't bend over or sit down to help or comfort Cole.

"Cole, come inside, please." He nods and crawls to the door. I open it. If anyone could see us now, they'd laugh. A physically disabled woman with her sidekick, the crawling man with a bloody mouth! We'd make a great comic book, don't you think?

We limp over to the couch. I plummet down and reach for his hand to help him. We look at each other's marks and laugh, "Do you need a ice pack?" I ask as I get up and walk over to the freezer. I grab one and throw it at Cole, "Catch!" He caught it and layer it on his mouth.

"Was that your boyfriend?" He asks, already knowing the answer. I nod.

"I should probably call him."

"Yeah."

"I'll be right back, you can watch TV or something."

I enter another room and dial Percy's number. It rings once, twice, three times. He answers it. I am greeted by silence.

I sigh, "I'm sorry Percy. He doesn't mean anything to me, I just-"

"You just what? Thought you could going around kissing the people who hurt you?"

"No, I-"

"Save it. I never thought you would to this."

"Percy! Let me talk!" I yell into the phone, "Cole wanted to get back together, but I didn't want to. I still don't. Even if you broke up with me, I wouldn't want to date him. He hurt me, and he can't take that back. I have forgiven him, though. I gave him a small kiss as a farewell. He was going to leave, until you punched him!" I could see an 'O' shape take the form of his mouth.

"Well, what happened to your arm then?" I then told him the janitor story. By the end we were laughing.

Then it was time to say goodbye, "I love you, Annabeth." He said.

"I love you, Percy." I responded with a wide grin on my face. I ended the call and walked into the living room.

All though Cole's smile had faded, mine had not.

"You guys worked it out?" He asks hopeful of an answer that I won't be giving.

"Yeah." I said. His hope vanished.

"I'm sure I over stayed my welcome. I'm going to be leaving now. Thank you for the day." He smiled lightly and headed for the door.

"Wait." It had slipped through my lips before my brain had time to filter it. Cole turned around. "You want to help me with something?" I asked. What was I doing? He nodded a sure and asked with what. I held up some bottles and gestured towards the garbage. He grinned.

We spent the rest of the night throwing all of the alcohol in trash bags. My mom would probably have a fit, but it's for her own good. I miss her. A lot.

---

My mother had returned past midnight. Cole and I kept each other up with card games. Chloe had stopped in the doorway when she realized what was missing.

I ran up to her, "I'm sorry mom. But you need help." I was crying.

"I know." She whispered.

"I miss my mom." I hugged her, and sniffled into her shoulder. Cole walks by us and tells me he's going to go in my ear. I nod and he leaves.

That day was odd, but I liked it. My mom and I looked online for places for her to get help. But what she said after that was dreadful. Her face was wore and tired, "Maybe you should live with your dad, while I get help." I stood from the chair. How could she say that? I shook my head over and over again. I never wanted to go near that man ever again. My mom lead me to my bed, I was still shaking from the memories of that night with my father.

---

We all have choices in this world.

I have a choice to live with my father or my mother.

I have the choice of Cole or Percy.

But I don't know what I want.

*****

Hey! It's been a while! So sorry :( But I'm here now :) Hope you liked this chapter!

~FreeStray